First team captain Phil Hawkins is realistic about the job facing the Murrayfield Dafs Cricket Club first team in 2019.

It is their second season in the ESCA Championship. “Our goals for the season are to replicate last season and create a great team environment which we hope to get results on the back of.”

It’s such a competitive league that knowing who the danger sides are Phil regards as ‘a very hard question’.He said : ” I feel that all teams are dangerous and I believe that with the additions of newly promoted Heriots Second team  (who we open the season against on Saturday 27 April 2019 in Roseburn Park 1.00pm start) and Morton who are both strong teams there are no easy games. That being said Grange Seconds who won the league last year will be the ones to beat.

Although the Dafs start at home to Heriots Seconds, Phil is already looking forward to the reverse game away, “I love playing at Goldenacre, it’s a really nice ground.”

Being first team captain essentially makes Phil club captain and he seems happy with the club’s postion as we sit on the “Shielsy bench” looking out on the cherry blossom lined Roseburn Park.

He reflects : “I think the club in general is in a really good place. We have had good recruitment over the summer and through some great work by Iain Martin and Sam Fergusson we have some great new sponsors.There is a great vibe around the club pre-season and everyone is really looking forward to getting started.”

Phil Hawkins 1st  team captain in the nets preparing for the season opener. 
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Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.